Casa Rosales

Casa Rosales

Thursday 14 March 2013

To blog or not to blog

That really is the question at the moment.

I SHOULDN'T be blogging because I have a backlog of things to do - but here I am. I just need to unburden myself a little and realise that blogging really helps me to do that. I'm sure that once I've hit the 'publish' button, I find the space to see what needs to be done next.

As you may be aware, we've found a house after a long time looking. We're able to start moving our things in as from now even though we're not moving properly until the end of the month. This means no mad dash last minute pressure to get out of our current home. However, I'm finding that the lack of pressure for me means that motivation is low. I've packed a few boxes and sorted a few bits out here and there but I need to do it in a more concentrated way. Believe it or not, I've spent more time reading up on how it SHOULD be done on the internet than doing it. And I've moved house enough times myself to have the knowledge already. But I'm definitely employing avoidance tactics. Get a grip, woman! Yes, yes, OK. I will. I will.

You may also know that I make chocolates...and this is one of the busiest times for a chocolatier, however small her enterprise might be. I made about a dozen eggs to take to the local English shop, where I sell my chocolates. I was really surprised to find that most of them have sold and I've had orders for another 9. I'm delighted, of course, but dismayed because I have so little time left to make them and also to prepare for the stall I've booked at the Saturday Market. That's this Saturday.

And my teaching? Well, it's exam week so I've been preparing texts and tests and reading through topics that have been submitted for the summer exams. The students are tired, that's clear, but my youngest class is soaking up their language learning like the proverbial sponge. I am constantly delighted when they demonstrate that their ability to put each week's learning together into longer and more complex sentences. On Monday, we'd been looking at vocabulary about buildings in towns and had a little town map showing where different places were. The preposition we were working on was 'next to' and I was asking questions like, 'Where's the swimming pool'  in order to get the answer, 'It's next to the school' - just imagine my delight when one bright spark gave me the answer, then said, 'Or - in front of the park; or opposite the cinema; or behind the supermarket!' And he set the standard for all the others - who followed with equal detail. Yey!!!!

So, today, for the first time in at least a week or more, the sun is shining and all seems much more settled in the outside world. I think I have a plan for the day. First hour - milk chocolate eggs. Then, walk the dog in the sunshine; next, dark chocolate eggs; next, empty the hall bookcase; next, make lunch; next, prepare for my classes this afternoon; next, collect children from school; next, teach; next; pack one of the lounge bookcases; next, another milk chocolate egg session and packing of the mornings eggs. It's a plan - an ambitious one but a plan.

And what is FR doing all this time? I wouldn't even like to start on his itinerary - it's as crammed as mine and includes going to a conference in France for five days on Sunday....though of course, this arrangement is my secret weapon in getting organised! When he returns on Friday, all will be sorted. Probably.

Enough procrastination, onwards and onwards again. As the Bard said, 'In delay there lies no plenty'. I know, I know. (But how true the following cartoon feels!!)

Thanks to Dave Walker.

16 comments:

  1. Oh Annie, I really do feel for you. I think children need to be allocated some packing duties.....they will only be allowed to lick the chocolate bowl once for every box packed...or something like that. There is no doubt that jobs to do and time to do them usually manage to fall in line. What I find depressing is there are some days when I have one thing planned to do, and procrastination still takes over, and it doesn't get done. Take care of yourself in all this... fb advice about lots of cups of tea seems very sensible. Lots of love and good luck with getting those eggs finished. Jxxx

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    1. The children are doing their bit, Janice - as well as licking the chocolate bowl! I've never been one to shy away from a little bribery either...
      Actually, I thrive on this sort of pressure being an extrovert - lots to do, a variety of different challenges to deal with - as you say, when there's just the one thing...it could probably wait til later. I am delighted to say that my morning's batch of eggs have turned out absolutely beautifully, so I treated myself to a cup of tea. FR is cooking lunch before he takes a carful of stuff over to the new house and does a few jobs there. We're on target.
      Thank you - it's always so good to hear from you! Axxx

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  2. You know the saying "If you want something doing ...ask a busy women" , does it ring any bells?

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    1. Clanging loudly, Annie. It was said to me just yesterday and it really is very true - though only if that busy woman remembers to write it down somewhere...and then remembers where she wrote it down. Or is that a different problem I've got?
      Axxx

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  3. I'm a great advocate of list making, I usually have two lists on the go at once.........the must do list, changing beds, cleaning the kitchen, washing the floor, ironing......... then my other list has the things I love to do, such as 30 minutes of knitting or sewing, 30 minutes reading blogs.......I usually reward myself with something off the 'love to do list' when I've ticked off two things from the 'must do list'. If I'm feeling really generous to myself it's only one thing off the 'must to do list' to enjoy a little me time. I find this really works for me, although maybe I just love making lists and ticking the boxes.

    Other than that I'm all for a little bribery, as Janice advises, having the children helping could really speed things up. x

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    1. Oh Kim - sigh!
      You see, you are SO organised! I bet you could pack my house up and sort all my mess out in an instant. How much would it take to entice you over? I feel generous to myself all the time and spoil myself dreadfully - perhaps I don't deserve it....Have you ever done the MBTI tests? I bet we're completely opposite! But we do need each other so much! (Not quite sure how I could help you but I'd feed you chocolate when you felt you needed a reward.)

      We're moving on nicely now - just had a really good day. Axxx

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  4. Love the cartoon!

    And I agree with Kim, you need lots and lots of lists ... I know a brilliant online list app ;)

    Good luck x

    PS Although I was joking there really is an app ... rememberthemilk.com

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    1. I loved the cartoon - and that little telling phrase that I recognised immediately - 'go and have a little look'!!
      I write lists and then can't remember where I've put them. I'm not at all surprised there's an app for it all - actually, I've achieved just about everything I put on my list today and am feeling very cheerful.

      I do still need a lot of luck, so thanks! Axxx

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  5. I too loved the cartoon...and was delighted at the response you had from your class,proof that they are really involved and that your methods work.

    I procrastinate, wait until I have the place to myself and then go to it in a frenzy before some bright spark can offer a contrary opinion on how to go about things.

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    1. Did I write your last sentence?? No, you did - but that's me to a tee. Which is why my dear husband's week in France is perfectly placed despite appearances to the contrary!

      I have only one more week of teaching then we have a break for Easter and that's when all hell will break loose! Great fun....if you like that sort of thing.
      Axxx

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  6. Thirding the cartoon here. It's brilliant! Moving as you're doing is actually more manageable than an all in one move, as at least you can keep moving the boxes tio the new house as you pack them instead of falling over them. But put together with all the other calls on your time, you really NEED to blog to sort it all our in your mind. :-)

    FR being away should be a blessing, as I always find things get done so much better when DH isn't around to distract me.....

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    1. It was a great find was that cartoon - says it all! We've had a really good day today and for the first time I can see that we've made a bit of space at this end. Obviously, we have a few things piling up at the other end as we haven't had chance to unpack anything there yet - but we will!

      And, as I said to Helen, this is good timing for me....glad you find it the same! Axxx

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  7. I think I have to agree with others that I am much more organised and get things done when my husband is away. You do seem to have an awful lot to do at the moment. I'm sure you'll cope!

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    1. As long as I can sit down from time to time and say 'I can't cope', have a cuppa and a little look on the internet, I can cope - if you know what I mean. I am going to be very systematic when FR is away and get everything organised. Then we have another week to move the big things and clean out the rented house. I think we'll manage.

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  8. Sounds like a wonderful life to me - so why worry? Be happy!

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    1. Now this comment is why I enjoy blogging so much! Thanks Nilly - you've hit it on the head here! (Especially as the sun is streaming down on my back as I type - a very nice feeling!) Have a lovely day yourself. Axxx

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